Dyslexia in K

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The IEP process can be overwhelming and intimidating! As much as the teacher’s and the school want to do what is best for your child, they may not have the resources available. In these deficient economic times, resources are becoming less and less. While your rights and responsibilities are given to you at each IEP meeting, they still can be complicated to understand and not contain the information you really need. One can employ an advocate, a legal representative who knows Special Education law, to attend IEP meetings. However, hiring an advocate usually puts the school at a defense. Your best advocate is yourself and knowing your child’s needs and legal rights.

Since special education laws are constantly changing, it is advantageous to keep abreast of current laws. The websites to the left are extremely informative and provide current, up-to-date information. While all the websites are high quality, my favorite website is the first one listed which is Wrights Law. What I really like about this website is how easy it is to manipulate and how current the information is, and that the information is in clear, logical language for anyone to comprehend. You can type in any topic you wish to explore and it immediately takes you to the most current information. It also contains recent articles that are immediately posted on the home page, as well as sections on books and trainings, advocacy library, and law library. In the left-hand corner of the Home page, you can register to “The Special Education Advocate” which sends weekly emails about different topics related to special education. The most recent one titled “Self Advocacy Skill: Helping Your Child Find Her Voice” contained relevant tips on how to help your child understand the IEP process, know what she needs and wants, and how to negotiate to get it. This is essential material for your child as they go to high school and college.

Just a few weeks ago I used the Wright’s Law website while trying to exit my daughter from her IEP and secure a 504 for accommodations related to her learning differences. What I thought would be an easy process, turned into a nightmare! Unbeknownst to me at the time, the district was “cleaning up” 504’s. Apparently many existed without proper documentation to support them. Even though my daughter was receiving accommodations, they were independent of her IEP which was specific for articulation. The school psychologist argued with me regarding the specific ways to qualify for a 504. Little did he know I had the Wright’s Law website up in front of me where I kept repeating the law and supporting material. Besides quoting the law, it gave me the confidence to argue knowing I had the correct information. She received her 504!